Page 43 - Doralice

nourished her at these breasts. She is innocent
of the deed which is laid to her charge, and for
which she is sentenced to a lingering and cruel
death. And you, when you shall have learnt
everything, and laid your hands upon the
impious murderer, and understood the reason
which moved him to slay your children, you
will assuredly show her mercy and deliver her

from these bitter and cruel torments. And if
you find that I speak falsely in this, I offer
myself to suffer the same punishment which
the wretched Doralice is now enduring.'
Then the nurse set forth fully from beginning
to end the whole history of Doralice's past
life; and the king when he heard it doubted

not the truth of it, but forthwith gave orders
that the queen, who was now more dead than
alive, should be taken out of the earth; which
was done at once, and Doralice, after careful
nursing and ministration by physicians, was
restored to health.
Next King Genese stirred up through all his
kingdom mighty preparations for war, and
gathered together a great army, which he

despatched to Salerno. After a short campaign
the city was captured, and Tebaldo, bound
____
43